January 25, 2006
Dive Technology in Action
Posted by victoria at 08:14 AM
January 23, 2006
Hot Day on the Baltic
Posted by victoria at 01:38 PM
July 26, 2005
Last Dive on the Baltic
The team share their thoughts of their last dive on Russalka, barely 24 hours before they are to fly out of Estonia.
Posted by victoria at 02:00 PM
July 25, 2005
Sea Hunter Equipment
On the deck of the Mare, Warren takes some time to explain to complicated system of tanks and hoses worn by the team.
Posted by victoria at 01:51 PM
Close Encounters
When you travel abroad, you are never sure what you will see. This is not a test....
Posted by victoria at 07:34 AM
July 24, 2005
Bone Cutter
Warren explains the dangers of diving and filming, and the numerous cutting tools needed to dive safely.
Posted by victoria at 09:16 AM
July 23, 2005
Catamaran = Big Waves
Big waves move the Sea Hunters in the Gulf of Finland. That catamaran wasn't playing around.
Posted by victoria at 02:07 PM
July 21, 2005
Captain Velo and Mare
Who hath desired the Sea? -- the sight of salt water unbounded --
The heave and the halt and the hurl and the crash of the comber wind-hounded?
The sleek-barrelled swell before storm, grey, foamless, enormous, and growing --
Stark calm on the lap of the Line or the crazy-eyed hurricane blowing --
Rudyard Kipling
Thank you to Captain Velo and the crew of Mare.
Posted by victoria at 10:30 AM
July 20, 2005
60° North | Beautiful Day on the Baltic
Our sound/camera man John has brought us footage from the field. Just in time too; they leave monday for George's Bank (Dangerous). The first video is an intro to the expedition, sit back, relax, and enjoy life on the Baltic through the eyes of John Rosborough.
Posted by victoria at 11:50 AM
July 17, 2005
See the Russalka
We have footage of the team diving on Russalka. It's amazing to even have this footage with all the troubles that came with diving this wreck.
p.s. The music is from the local festival in Tallinn.
Posted by victoria at 08:20 AM
July 16, 2005
Jim's Audio Report Part 2
Hear maritime archeologist, Jim Delgado, describe the wreck of the Russalka and the problems encountered on this dive.
Posted by victoria at 03:40 PM
Jim's Audio Report Part 1
Hear maritime archeologist, Jim Delgado, describe the wreck of the Russalka.
Posted by victoria at 03:37 PM
July 15, 2005
On board the Mare
Mike is checking in with line producer, Sue, from on board the Mare. This expedition has had it's share of troubles: Baltic weather, heat waves, big waves, the problems keep rolling in from every side.
Posted by livedive at 12:39 PM
Difficulties on the Baltic
Mike called in from the research vessel Mare to give us an update on the team's progress and the weather on the Baltic Sea.
Posted by livedive at 08:52 AM
July 14, 2005
Video Arriving at Gate 1
The Sea Hunters team arrives in Estonia....will their luggage be there this time...
Posted by victoria at 02:41 PM
Sue and John's Excellent Adventure
Video is on the way, here are some pictures to tide you over. JR and Sue make quite a team.
Posted by victoria at 10:05 AM
July 12, 2005
Sue's Photo Journal 1
Enjoy The Sea Hunters, in Tallinn, from the perspective of our intrepid Line Producer, Sue.
Posted by victoria at 08:17 AM
July 09, 2005
First Dip in the Gulf of Finland...brrrrrrr!!
It is 7:30 pm Estonian time. I have just received a telephone call from Warren Fletcher who is on the vessel, Mare. They are steaming to shore and have been able to get a line on the wreck of Russalka in the Gulf of Finland. They were able to get their two dives in, but apparently it was a struggle. The water is freezing cold out there, and I don’t take Warren’s description lightly. Warren is a furnace and can handle any type of temperature without complaint. When he says the water is freezing cold, he really means it. The guys’ lenses are fogging up due to the cold and although Warren said the visibility is good, the water is black, black, black. I’m anxious to get the details when they return, but it certainly sounds like they have their work cut out for them on this one.
Thanks for keeping track of us. We will keep you posted.
Sue
Posted by livedive at 10:23 AM
July 08, 2005
Well Toto, we’re not in Jasper anymore!
The Sea Hunters are in the bustling city of Tallinn, Estonia and what a great city it is! Especially the Old City which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and when you see it, you will understand why. Jim Delgado and I were able to do some location scouting in this part of the city while the guys are out on the vessel, Mare, to tie a line to the wreck and get a couple of dives in before they head back to shore late tonight. The cobblestone streets are a dead giveaway. They run all through this section. All of the buildings are made of stone or a stucco type material in a wide array of pastel colours. Its really beautiful.
The cobblestone streets wind all through this part of the city with remains of the medieval city walls still standing and all kept in great condition. The main square of Tallinn is bustling with activity in the summertime. There are several restaurants that have patios open. Jim and I had lunch there today.
We were especially lucky as we arrived to the square on the first day of the Medieval Market. To open the market, a procession of people dressed in medieval costume in a wide array of colours and styles walked through the square with flags and music. Speeches were given in Estonian and English, and Medieval type music was played all afternoon and will be played for the duration of the festivities. It was pretty cool.
In the main square, they set up a large market which had a variety of tables with goods for sale ranging from hand woven baskets to handmade sweaters to a pig on a spit roasting in the corner. Jim was anxious to get pictures of every angle of the pig. I didn’t ask why.
Jim and I made our way over the Estonian Maritime Museum in the afternoon where we met with the Director, Urmas Dresen. It was Urmas who informed us of the terrorist attack on London. All of our sympathies go out to the victims and their families and to the people of England during this time. The level of energy and stupidity that goes into these pathetic acts of cowardice never ceases to amaze me. I hope I never understand it.
Mr Dresen also told us he had been in contact with the vessel, Mare, which has our Sea Hunters crew on board. By the time we got to the museum, the guys should have arrived at the Russalka wreck site and should have had a line tied on the wreck with one dive under their belts. Apparently, they had run into very windy weather and decided to stay near an island en route until the wind died down.
Mike called me from the boat this evening at around 11 pm Estonian time. They were still at the island, everyone was safe and they decided to stay put and wait out the bad weather until they could, hopefully, get away during the night to the wreck site where they would still try to get their 2 dives in before coming back to shore.
The weather on shore has been absolutely beautiful. It is definitely summertime in Tallinn. Unfortunately, land weather and sea weather are two different beasts. And unfortunately, we cannot control them. We will still be on schedule if they can get the dives in over the next day, but if mother nature keeps playing tricks, we could be scrambling.
We’ll have to wait and see. Keep checking in on us.
Until next time…
Sue
Posted by livedive at 10:22 AM
July 07, 2005
Delgado's Estonia: Audio file 3
Posted by livedive at 04:52 PM
Delgado's Estonia: Audio file 2
Posted by livedive at 04:51 PM
Delgado's Estonia: Audio file 1
Jim Delgado gives an excellent narrative of the team’s experiences thus far in Estonia.
Posted by livedive at 04:37 PM
Pictures from Tallinn
Here are a few photos to start the ball rolling. Tomorrow is our first day on site - so on returning to solid land I'll have a few fun clips to send your way.
Cheers!
JR & Susan
John Rosborough, cool camera and sound guy, films the action as divers, Mike and Warren Fletcher, ready the dive gear for the first day of diving.
Posted by livedive at 07:42 AM
July 05, 2005
N 59 25 | E 24 45: Welcome to Estonia
The Sea Hunters are en route to their next dive location Tallinn, Estonia. We will update you when we hear from our team in the field.
Estonia is a very old country that is really very. After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, it regained its freedom in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Estonia is slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined. As a new member of the World Trade Organization and the European Union, Estonia has transitioned effectively to a modern market economy with strong ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro.
Learn more about Estonia here.
Posted by victoria at 07:04 AM | Comments (0)
